Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 127 A Model for Our Court Officials!
"Has the Hanlin Academy recently produced a forthright and honest official?"

Shen Kun was taken aback. How come I didn't know anything about this?

right!

If we have to force a connection, the Hanlin Academy recently produced a "loyal minister" who once tricked the emperor into giving him a beating in court.

This person was none other than Yan Maoqing, who now doesn't even attend classes anymore.

However, this was entirely fabricated by Chen Yingda. The officials and probationary scholars of the Hanlin Academy simply did not want to argue with this stubborn old man, Chen Yingda, and just listened without really believing it.

As for the outspoken officials in the Hanlin Academy who dared to speak out against the Japanese pirates...

Shen Kun was even more confused about who it could be.

After all, since he became the top scholar in the imperial examination and was appointed as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, he had twice tried to submit memorials to the emperor to report on the Japanese pirates. Not only did he not receive any response from the emperor, but he was also privately warned by the Hanlin Academy scholars.

After that, several superiors in the Hanlin Academy who had previously treated him fairly well began to distance themselves from him, and he was reassigned to trivial tasks such as compiling the Veritable Records of the previous dynasty.

On the contrary, Pan Sheng, the second-place scholar, and Xing Yifeng, the third-place scholar, who entered the Hanlin Academy with him as editors, are now highly valued by several scholars in the academy.

As for Yan Maoqing, who clearly stated in front of him that he would "not shirk his duty"...

Looking at what he's doing now, Shen Kun also feels that it's not very reliable.

After all, a truly upright person would not do something as despicable as plagiarizing other people's work, which is why he told Wu Cheng'en to "take it one step at a time".

With this question in mind.

Shen Kun led Wu Cheng'en out of the room quickly to greet Cui Heng:
"Brother Liangyu, I wonder who this loyal minister you're talking about, who is willing to speak out against the Japanese pirates in the southeast?"

"See for yourself!"

Cui Heng slapped the book in his hand onto Shen Kun's chest and said in a rather unrestrained manner.

Shen Kun quickly caught it with his hand and looked at it.

On the title page of the book are four large characters in regular script, titled "The Record of Defeating the Japanese (Part Two)".

There is also a line of smaller characters on the side of these three characters:
— Written by Niu Bishanren.

"Eh?!"

Shen Kun was stunned for a moment, and looked at Wu Cheng'en, who was standing to the side, with a puzzled look. Wasn't this Yan Maoqing's self-chosen name?
That day, Wu Cheng'en took on the task of writing an article for Yan Maoqing.

Because he was too busy with trivial matters at the Hanlin Academy, he no longer paid attention to this matter. Even when he went to the Yan residence to deliver the article, Wu Cheng'en himself delivered it.

Therefore, no one knows what Wu Cheng'en actually wrote or what it contained. All that is known is that after the brother-in-law delivered the article to the Yan residence, Yan Maoqing seemed very satisfied...

"..."

Meeting Shen Kun's questioning gaze, Wu Cheng'en frowned and nodded slightly.

It means: Brother-in-law, I wrote this book, but look, I didn't sign it!

"..."

Shen Kun understood, but his doubts only deepened.

If it's just plagiarizing Wu Cheng'en's articles for publication, how can that be called speaking out against the blatant Japanese invasion? At most, it should only be considered a prelude.

Could the problem lie in this book?

"Brother Liangyu, please come in and sit down first. Let me figure out what's going on before we talk."

Shen Kun then led Cui Heng into the guest room, instructed the servants to pour him tea, and began to carefully examine the book himself.

“Brother Bozai, you don’t need to worry about me. Please do as you please.”

Cui Heng didn't urge him, but just sat aside and watched him with a smile, observing his reaction after reading the book.

Then, Shen Kun frowned shortly afterward.

Then his face showed surprise, and worry appeared in his eyes from time to time, until he turned to the last page, when his face had lost all color...

"How is my virtuous brother Bozai?"

This reaction was completely different from what Cui Heng had expected. Finally, unable to hold back any longer, he asked the question the moment Shen Kun closed the book.
"I have already asked the manager of Luming Pavilion. This book has only been out for one morning and more than 800 copies have already been sold. If given time, it will sell at least several thousand copies. Its contents will surely cause a stir in the capital."

"Such a problem with the Japanese pirates in the southeast will surely stir up public opinion!"

"Isn't this exactly what you, Brother Bozai, wanted? Why aren't you clapping and cheering now?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Kun did not immediately reply. Instead, he first handed the book to Wu Cheng'en for inspection, and then said with a hint of worry and ambiguity:
"Brother Liangyu, although this is what I wish for, I'm afraid the author of this book will face considerable trouble."

“Brother Bozai’s concerns are indeed not without merit.”

Cui Heng completely suppressed his smile, nodded, and said seriously,
"That's why I said earlier that the Hanlin Academy produced a forthright and honest official."

"The book's portrayal of the darkness within officialdom, including the collusion between officials and local wealthy merchants, pirates, and Japanese pirates, is too explicit."

"This is torn down the facade of the court, which is probably not what the Emperor wants to see, nor does the Emperor want to make it public in this way. This person will surely be disliked by the Emperor."

"The illegal acts described in the book are difficult to prove. If someone takes the opportunity to impeach this person for spreading rumors, fabricating facts, and slandering the court, the emperor, in order to appease the people and maintain the credibility of the court, will most likely have no choice but to back down."

"At that time, this book will be classified as a seditious book."

"And this person will likely be punished by the Emperor as a warning to others."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Wu Cheng'en trembled involuntarily.

He had already skimmed through it and could confirm that all the contents of the book were written by him, without even a single word being changed.

He never imagined that such an article would cause such great trouble, even putting Yan Maoqing in such a dangerous situation...

"Brother Liangyu, please excuse me for a moment."

Shen Kun noticed Wu Cheng'en's unusual behavior, and he urgently needed to confirm something with his brother-in-law before deciding on the next course of action.

So he stood up, called Wu Cheng'en outside the hall, and asked him directly:
"This article is definitely your work. Have you made any changes?"

"Yes, there are no changes..."

"So, Yan Maoqing, have you read this article carefully?"

"He flipped through it page by page in front of me that day, and encouraged me to keep going..."

"..."

Shen Kun instantly understood what had happened. He closed his eyes, looked up, and took a deep breath. An indescribable sense of respect welled up in his chest, and he couldn't hide the soreness in his nose.

After a long time.

"Ah—Yan Maoqing is truly a model for us court officials, a loyal and righteous man!"

As he slowly exhaled this breath, Shen Kun looked up at the sky and sighed deeply.

Having said that, he strode back into the guest room and said solemnly:

“Brother Liangyu, you are right. The Hanlin Academy, which should be full of honest and upright officials, has finally produced an honest and upright official who writes the truth!”

"Having such a loyal minister is truly a blessing for the Ming Dynasty. Although I am insignificant and have little influence, I vow to stand with Yan Maoqing through thick and thin. If he ever encounters trouble in the future, I will risk my life to rescue him."

"I wonder if Brother Liangyu would be willing to join me in building momentum for him and lending him a helping hand?"

(End of this chapter)